Cooling system with vertical alignment

Abstract

A cooling system uses P-traps to address the oil return issues that result from a vertical separation between a compressor and a heat exchanger. Generally, the vertical piping that carries the refrigerant from the compressor to the heat exchanger includes P-traps installed at various heights to capture oil in the refrigerant and to prevent that oil from flowing back to the compressor. T-connections are coupled to the P-traps to allow the oil to drain out of the P-traps. The oil may then be collected and returned to the compressor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from a refrigerant; 
 a flash tank configured to store the refrigerant; 
 a compressor configured to compress refrigerant, the heat exchanger positioned vertically above the compressor; 
 piping configured to direct refrigerant from the compressor to the heat exchanger, the piping comprising:
 a first P-trap positioned vertically above the compressor and vertically below the heat exchanger; and 
 a second P-trap positioned vertically above the first P-trap and vertically below the heat exchanger; 
 
 a receiver; 
 a first valve configured to control a flow of refrigerant and oil from the first P-trap to the receiver; and 
 a second valve configured to control a flow of refrigerant and oil from the second P-trap to the receiver. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , the receiver configured to direct refrigerant to the compressor. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a temperature of refrigerant received at the compressor, the first valve opens when the temperature falls below a threshold. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a discharge pressure of the compressor, the first and second valves open when the discharge pressure falls below a threshold. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , the first and second valves configured to open once per day. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a level of oil in the receiver, the first and second valves open when the level falls below a threshold. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , the receiver configured to direct refrigerant to the flash tank. 
     
     
       8. A method comprising:
 removing, by a heat exchanger, heat from a refrigerant; 
 storing, by a flash tank, the refrigerant; 
 compressing, by a compressor, refrigerant, the heat exchanger positioned vertically above the compressor; 
 directing, by piping, refrigerant from the compressor to the heat exchanger, the piping comprising:
 a first P-trap positioned vertically above the second compressor and vertically below the heat exchanger; and 
 a second P-trap positioned vertically above the first P-trap and vertically below the heat exchanger; 
 
 controlling, by a first valve, a flow of refrigerant and oil from the first P-trap to a receiver; and 
 controlling, by a second valve, a flow of refrigerant and oil from the second P-trap to the receiver. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising directing, by the receiver, refrigerant to the compressor. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 detecting, by a sensor, a temperature of refrigerant received at the compressor; and 
 opening the first valve when the temperature falls below a threshold. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 detecting, by a sensor, a discharge pressure of the compressor; and 
 opening the first and second valves when the discharge pressure falls below a threshold. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising opening the first and second valves once per day. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 detecting, by a sensor, a level of oil in the receiver; and 
 opening the first and second valves when the level falls below a threshold. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising directing, by the receiver, refrigerant to the flash tank. 
     
     
       15. A system comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress refrigerant; 
 a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the refrigerant from the compressor, the heat exchanger positioned vertically above the compressor; 
 piping configured to direct refrigerant from the compressor to the heat exchanger, the piping comprising:
 a first P-trap positioned vertically above the compressor and vertically below the heat exchanger; and 
 a second P-trap positioned vertically above the first P-trap and vertically below the heat exchanger; 
 
 a receiver; 
 a first valve configured to control a flow of refrigerant and oil from the first P-trap to the receiver; and 
 a second valve configured to control a flow of refrigerant and oil from the second P-trap to the receiver. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , the receiver configured to direct refrigerant to the compressor. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a temperature of refrigerant received at the compressor, the first valve opens when the temperature falls below a threshold. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a discharge pressure of the compressor, the first and second valves open when the discharge pressure falls below a threshold. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , the first and second valves configured to open once per day. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a level of oil in the receiver, the first and second valves open when the level falls below a threshold.